Bednarik, "Chuck" (Charles P.)
Football
b. May 1, 1925, Bethlehem, PA
The last of pro football's full-time two-way players, Bednarik served in the Air Force during World War II and then starred as a center and linebacker at the University of Pennsylvania. He was a consensus All-American in 1947 and 1948 and he won the 1948 Maxwell Award as the outstanding college player of the year.
He sat out the first two games of his professional career with the Philadelphia Eagles because of injury and then missed only one more game in his 14 seasons. After playing offensive center in 1949 and 1950, when he was named to the Associated Press All-Pro team, Bednarik was moved to linebacker and was an All-Pro at that position 6 consecutive years, 1951 through 1956.
When the Eagles were depleted by injuries in 1960, Bednarik played on offense and defense for most of the season. He was rewarded with a $250 bonus and another All-Pro selection as a linebacker. Philadelphia beat the Green Bay Packers 17-13 in the NFL championship game when Bednarik made a touchdown-saving tackle on Green Bay fullback Jimmy Taylor with time running out.
His most famous tackle, though, came earlier in the season against the New York Giants. With the Eagles leading 17-10 in a game that effectively decided the Eastern Division championship, New York halfback Frank Gifford caught a pass in Philadelphia and was trying to get out of bounds to stop the clock when Don Burroughs tackled him low and Bednarik hit him high.
The Eagles recovered the resulting fumble and Bednarik did a victory dance while Gifford lay motionless with a severe concussion. New York fans booed, but Bednarik later explained that he didn't realize Gifford had been hurt and that he was celebrating only because of the fumble recovery. Gifford spent a year in retirement because of the play.
Bednarik retired after the 1962 season. In his 14 seasons, all with the Eagles, he intercepted 20 passes, returning them for 268 yards and 1 touchdown.